Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

Bolton travel guide

Bolton Tourism | Bolton Guide

You're Going to Love Bolton

With a population of 141.331, Bolton is a must-see destination in England, United Kingdom. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Bolton deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

Where to Eat in Bolton

If you’re looking for affordable options, Ewe Restaurant and Bar (370 Chorley Rd) and The Thomas Egerton (272 Blackburn Road) are great picks.

When to visit Bolton

Bolton in November
Estimated hotel price
£62
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bolton in November
Estimated hotel price
£62
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Bolton

Plane

Although Bolton doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Manchester Airport (UK) (MAN), which is located 27 km from Bolton. Birmingham Airport (UK) is the most popular, with regular flights from easyJet, British Airways, Loganair and other airlines departing from the United Kingdom. The shortest domestic flight to Bolton departs from Belfast and takes around 50m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Bolton, followed by Avanti West Coast. The train journey from Bolton to London takes 3h 10m and costs around £36 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Edinburgh, expect to pay about £74 for a 3h 41m trip. Located 3.1 km from the city centre, Bolton Moses Gate is the busiest station in Bolton. Another popular train station is Bolton Bromley Cross, located 4 km from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Bolton is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 279 km from Bolton. You’ll find branches of Turo and Sixt, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Bolton using National Express or FlixBus. From Leeds, the bus ride to Bolton takes 113 km and will cost you around £7. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about £15 for a journey of 185 km. Bolton’s bus station is located 0.5 km from the city centre.

Plane

Although Bolton doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Manchester Airport (UK) (MAN), which is located 27 km from Bolton. Birmingham Airport (UK) is the most popular, with regular flights from easyJet, British Airways, Loganair and other airlines departing from the United Kingdom. The shortest domestic flight to Bolton departs from Belfast and takes around 50m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Bolton, followed by Avanti West Coast. The train journey from Bolton to London takes 3h 10m and costs around £36 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Edinburgh, expect to pay about £74 for a 3h 41m trip. Located 3.1 km from the city centre, Bolton Moses Gate is the busiest station in Bolton. Another popular train station is Bolton Bromley Cross, located 4 km from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Bolton is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 279 km from Bolton. You’ll find branches of Turo and Sixt, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Bolton using National Express or FlixBus. From Leeds, the bus ride to Bolton takes 113 km and will cost you around £7. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about £15 for a journey of 185 km. Bolton’s bus station is located 0.5 km from the city centre.

Airports near Bolton

Airlines serving Bolton

KLM
Good (1,429 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,639 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,021 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,600 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,108 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,817 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,055 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,099 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,685 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,440 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,509 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,549 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,337 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (880 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,102 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,618 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,339 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,414 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,153 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (914 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in popular areas of Bolton

Most booked hotels in Bolton

Holiday Inn Express Wigan By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
£43+
Bolton Stadium Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£69+
Last Drop Village Hotel & Spa
4 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
£75+
Holiday Inn Bolton Centre By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
£56+
The Court House
3 stars
Good (7.7, Good reviews)
£45+
Mercure Bolton Georgian House Hotel
3 stars
Good (7.1, Good reviews)
£54+

Hiring a car in Bolton

Hiring a car in Bolton costs £22 per day, on average, or £45 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to hire your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 12% cheaper than airport locations in Bolton.

Expect to pay £1.37 per litre in Bolton (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £16.33 and £21.77. Compact (Volkswagen Golf or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Bolton, while also 77% cheaper than other types, on average.

Hiring a car in Bolton costs £22 per day, on average, or £45 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to hire your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 12% cheaper than airport locations in Bolton.

Expect to pay £1.37 per litre in Bolton (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £16.33 and £21.77. Compact (Volkswagen Golf or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Bolton, while also 77% cheaper than other types, on average.